Based in Sydney, Australia, Foundry is a blog by Rebecca Thao. Her posts explore modern architecture through photos and quotes by influential architects, engineers, and artists.

Nov 22 Numbers Chapter 17

Omniscient – You know everything. You know the sons of Israel are grumbling against You. You know they do not understand why the sons of Levi are separated for Your purpose and they are upset about it. Korah and the Kohathites wanted the priesthood, was the 250 part of the rest of the sons of Israel rather than just the Kohathites. Dathan and Abiram were the leaders of the sons of Reuben, these leaders were consumed. But there were twelve rods so someone must have taken the place of leaders for the sons of Reuben. Was it the same leaders as in Chapter 1? You know me. You know my heart. You are all-knowing.

Omnipotent- You can do anything. You make the rod of Aaron (Gabriel) for the house of Levi sprout and put forth buds and produce blossoms, and bear ripe almonds. You make the sons of Israel (Your angels) see and to understand that it is the sons of Levi (Seraphim) You have chosen out of the sons of Israel (Angels). You put it into my heart to think I am reading about Your angels. You are all-powerful.

Omnipresent – You are everywhere. You are in the tent of meeting. You are in the midst of Your angels. You are here with me. You are in my heart. You are all-present.

Eternal – You are the cause of time. You are the next day. You are 3,000 years ago. You are today. You are forever and ever. You are time.

Immutable – You do not change. Jesus deposited the rods before You in the tent of the testimony. Gabriel’s rod is to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that they may put an end to their grumblings against You, so that they should not die. Thus Jesus did, just as You had commanded him, so he did. You will never be made to change.

Transcendent – You are apart from Your creation. You teach me about You. There are twelve rods and Aaron’s (Gabriel’s?) rod You make bud and produce ripe almonds to show the sons of Israel You have chosen the sons of Levi to be Your possession. The sons of Israel are Your people but You choose the sons of Levi to carry Your tabernacle and minister to You. The sons of Israel (Your angels) see the budded rod and know that You have chosen the sons of Levi (the Seraphim Angels?) and they become afraid o dying.

Sovereign – It is You who chooses the sons of Levi. You make Aaron’s rod bear ripe almonds. You give them a sign against the rebels, that Moses (Jesus) may put an end to their grumblings against You. You are in complete control and You are doing Your foreknown plan!

Self – Existent – You exist by Yourself. You will exist even when the sons of Israel do not. You choose. You decide. You make the Seraphim Angels and the Cherubim angels to exist. You make Jesus and Gabriel exist. You make up my existence.

Self-Sufficient – You do not need any of Your creation to bring about Your will or Your purpose. You choose to use Your angels and Your humans because it is Your good pleasure, not Your need, that governs Your choice. Do You talk to Your angels? Do they see Your face? Do You only speak to Jesus or Michael or Gabriel to speak to the rest of the angels? Do they see the inside of the tabernacle? The Cherubim carry it? Or the Seraphim carry it and minister to You. Are the Seraphim the sons of Levi? Can angels hear my thoughts or read my heart? Can Seraphim?

Infinite – There are no limits or bounds to Your person or dominion. There are no bounds to making the rod sprout, bud, blossom, and even bear ripe almonds over night. You are without limits.

Holy – You are a morally excellent, perfect being. You separate the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi for Your purpose.

Gracious – You show the sons of Israel (angels) Your favor by showing them what You mean. You teach them.

Merciful – You show the angels Your compassion by making one rod sprout and You tell Jesus to put back the rod of Gabriel before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that He may put an end to the grumblings against You.

Longsuffering – You are patient with Your angels and slow to anger.

Just – You punish the guilty, atone for sin, and reward the righteous.

Loving – You love Your angels and You give them everything they need. You care for them and do not burden them.

Good – You give them a part of Yourself when You create the miracle of the rod to make them understand.

Wise – Your wisdom causes You to do the things You do to give me information. Your wisdom is higher than my wisdom. Your thoughts higher than mine.

Truthful – You always speak the truth. You have Your angels get twelve rods and You pick one. You have Jesus put back Gabriel’s rod as a sign to Your angels. This is reality.

Faithful – You always do what You You always do what You promise. You are the sons of Israel, Your angels, God and You lead them.

Wrathful – You will destroy all unrighteousness.

Jealous – You will not share the sons of Israel, Your angels, the sons of Levi, the Seraphim, Moses, or Aaron, or Jesus or Gabriel who are rightly and morally Yours with any other creature.

Righteous – You are always right. You teach the right way.

Incomprehensible – Does vs. 8 have anything to do with the buds and blossoms and (the rod) its ripe almonds with the lampstand in Exodus 25:31-40? A lampstand of pure gold, six branches shall go out from its sides. Three cups shall be shaped like almond blossoms in the one branch, a bulb and a flower, and three cups shaped like almonds blossoms in the other branch, a bulb and a flower – so for six branches going out from the lampstand and in the lampstand four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers. What does this mean? What does Exodus 25:35 mean?

· In vs. 8 …the rod of Aaron (Gabriel?) for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. Why does it put an end to the grumblings against You? How is it a sign against the rebels? You had just killed 14,950 people, why do You have them get twelve rods? Are they still grumbling? Aren’t they all whom You choose? Why do You choose just Aaron? Is Aaron Jesus then? Is Jesus both Moses and Aaron?

· Ezek 17:24 – What does a tree represent? What does it mean?

· Grumble is to mutter or mumble in discontent (restless desire for something more); complain in a surly or peevish manner (bad-tempered, haughty, arrogant, hard to please, and impatient).